Category Archives: Race of the Week

When it comes to trail running, Florida is underrated. Sure, the Sunshine State might lack hilly terrain and high altitude, but there is no shortage of challenging trails through breathtaking scenery.

That’s what makes the 11th annual Florida Challenge Half Marathon & 5K Trail Run on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 8 a.m. one of our favorite races. Held at beautiful Alafia River State Park, just east of Tampa, it’s perfectly situated on the race calendar before triathlon season and amid a crowded road race calendar. It’s rated one of the top trail runs in the country, with hillier trails than you’d expect.

It’s also one of the better values in Florida endurance sports. Race-day registration is just $35 for the 5K and $45 for the half marathon (early sign-up rates were even lower). At a time when it costs $80 to pound the asphalt and pavement of a road half-marathon, that’s a bargain.

History: Race debuted in 2004 and is one of a number of popular off-road running events put on by Tampa Races, which also stages the Picnic Island summer adventure run series, along with the XTerra Florida Trail Run series.

Format:The Florida Challenge is a 13.1 mile and a 5K trail run on beginner and intermediate single track trails. The half marathon starts at 8 a.m. and the 5K a half hour later.

Endurance athletes looking for a bucket list event the weekend of May 19-20 in greater Orlando have several options. There’s the Goruck Challenge, perhaps the toughest event in endurance sports, and Ironman 70.3, which has moved this year from its longtime Disney home to Haines City.

We’re big fans of Goruck and triathlon, but when it comes to memorable, brag-to-your-friends events, we’ll put our own clothing-optional Streak the Cove 5K up against everything. Our second-annual race, which drew 170 runners last year, returns for a two-loop run through the tree-lined neighborhoods of the Cypress Cove Resort on Sunday, May 20 at 8:30 a.m.

Though more than 80 percent of runners go nude, you may wear as much or as little as you like. (Shoes and sunscreen recommended.)

When Cypress Cove opened as a nudist resort in 1964, it was nestled on a two-lane road among cow pastures and orange groves. These days, there’s a Lowe’s home improvement store across the street, part of a bustling Orlando suburb. “The Cove,” meanwhile, has upgraded its facilities over the years and now has a sprawling pool complex and 80-plus hotel rooms to go with its beautiful lakeside setting

Amenities: Red Tultex T-shirts. Commemorative mini-bottles of wine to the top 20 male and top 20 female finishers age 21 and over. Goody bags before the race and post-race refreshment poolside, along with deejay and raffle drawings. Entry fee gets you into the resort for the entire day.

Signature Features: Um, it’s a clothing-optional race.

Projected Turnout: 200

Cost: $30 via online registration which closes at 11:59 p.m ET on Thursday, May 17. Raceday registration available for $35.

Goodman, a Tampa physician who has been battling the disease for six years, has been undergoing another round of chemotherapy and figures he might not be able to appear at the event, which will go on as scheduled on Saturday (May 5) at 8:30 a.m. from Tampa’s Riverfront Park.

“I’ve been really sick, the disease is catching up with me,” said Goodman, 54. “But when I started talking about calling it off, my friends stepped up to make this happen and pull it together. I’m hoping to make an appearance.”

Multiple myeloma accounts for just 1 percent of cancer cases but has claimed the lives of a number of prominent Americans, including Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, syndicated advice columnist Ann Landers, and former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro.

“I’ve been dealing with this disease for a number of year and thought I had it under control, but am hitting a bad spot right now,” Goodman said. “Once it became clear I probably wasn’t going to make it, every one of my friends said they’d step up and make it happen, and that’s pretty cool. I’m very grateful for the support.”

It’s not often you find a race for $30 that offers an hour-plus-long event, a dry-fit shirt, post-race food and entry to one of America’s finest beaches, which is waiving the usual $8 parking fee.

That’s all part of the package for the ninth-annual Shark Bite Challenge and Paddlefest at Honeymoon Island in Dunedin, which includes two days (April 14-15) of paddle races. If you can paddle it, you’re pretty much in. Not surprisingly, a large stand-up paddleboard (SUP) contingent is expected for Sunday. Anyone registering at the Dunedin Brewery from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday night gets a free beer.

The race is organized by Karen Mirlenbrink, owner of the Dunedin Pilates Studio and an accomplished paddler herself. At a time when an increasing number of endurance races charge for parking and offer little in terms of free post-race refreshments, the Shark Bite Challenge & Paddlefest might be the best value in the industry.

History: The Shark Bite Challenge is a fundraiser for the Friends of the Island Parks, a non-profit, citizen support organization that supports the efforts of Caladesi and Honeymoon Island State Parks.

Schwag: The Shark Bite Challenge works in conjunction with the Island Earth Days festival. With registration, racers receive a dry-fit t-shirt, free parking, and post-race lunch courtesy of Cafe Honeymoon.

This is the first weekend of the endurance sports season and Floridians have no shortage of high-profile options, including the Disney Marathon at Lake Buena Vista, the Ragnar Relay from Miami to Key West, and the new HITS Triathlon in Naples.

For those wanting an easier transition into 2012, there’s the MADD Dash 5K at Tampa’s Al Lopez Park. Organized by Tampa running guru Lynn Gray, it’s a fast course that likely will be run in ideal race conditions. (Think 58 degrees or so.)

Gray, who has completed 93 marathons, has introduced thousands to the joys of long-distance running over the years, most recently through her Take the First Step Program. She joined us this week on The Fitness Buff Show to discuss the MADD Dash and tips on making 2012 your best year yet as a runner. You can listen to that broadcast HERE.

Name of Race: MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Dash 5K – A Resolution Run

When: Saturday, January 7, 8 a.m.

Where: Al Lopez Park, Tampa

History: This is a 10th annual event

Format: 5K, plus a 1-mile kids fun run

Amenities: Long sleeve t-shirts and goodie bags for the first 300 registered runners. Trophies for overall winners, along with masters/grandmasters/and high school winners, along with standard 5-year age groups (9 and under through 80-plus)

We’re at the tail end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and there has been no shortage of terrific races and events to raise awareness and funds for a disease that impacts so many women and their families.

Apple founder Steve Jobs died earlier this month after battling a rare form of pancreatic cancer for eight years and the disease has claimed the lives of a number of notable people in recent years, including Gene Upshaw, Myles Brand, Chuck Daly, and Randy Pausch, whose battle with the disease inspired the best-selling book “The Last Lecture.”

In November, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network will stage “Purple Stride” events around the country that include 5K and 1-mile runs, walks, and kids fun runs. The events include St. Petersburg (Nov. 5), Orlando (Nov. 13), and in South Florida on (Nov. 20).

It’s not easy standing out in the cluttered, competitive field of obstacle mud runs. As we chronicled last week, there now are 17 companies promoting 22 such events this year – and that’s just in Florida.

Jonny Simpkins didn’t even decide to stage a race until competing in the Warrior Dash in Lake Wales in January. But his Highlanderrace, which debuts on Saturday (July 23) in Bartow, might just be the dark-horse hit of 2011.

Simpkins, who has a long background in both endurance sports and motocross racing, has found a unique piece of property, a tract of several thousand acres that’s never been used for endurance events – just a few off-road motocross events. There’s plenty of water and, in an unusual Florida twist, terrain of varying elevations.

Simpkins says the race, put on by his Rock On Adventures company, will be challenging enough but not overly difficult. One difference between the Highlander and other races is that the obstacles aren’t temporary; Simpkins has permission to leave them up for a proposed second race in October. That means the obstacles can be more substantive than those presented by some of the national obstacle run tours that have rolled through the Sunshine State this year.

Where rubber meets the rock

Plus, the event is billed as more of a family event. Spectators can see more than 75 percent of the 3-mile and 6-mile courses from raised terrain and take free hayrides to witness the rest of it. Plus the event will coincide with the Highland Games, a celebration of Celtic culture featuring bagpipes, kilts, and the type of endeavors you might see in strongman competitions.

“I didn’t want to put on just another fire-jumping, beer-drinking mud race,” Simpkins says. “I want to be know as the Highlander – a fun Scottish-themed event that you’re not afraid to bring your family to. There’s nothing wrong with beer-drinking races – and we have beer – but that’s not the emphasis.”

Format: Three-mile and six-mile obstacle runs consisting of man-made and natural obstacles of mud and stone, dirt and water.

Amenities: T-shirts (with registration), lots of food and beverages available for purchase.

Signature Feature: Steep 150-foot waterslide plunge into muddy water

Projected Turnout: 500-plus

Cost: Very affordable compared to others in the category for (now expired) early bird registration, which started at $45. Race still a good value at $70 for the three-miler or $75 for the six-miler. Online registration ends today (July 18). Race day registration available.